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Chapter 564
Chapter 564
Chapter 564 - Because We Are Brothers
The day after Mother collapsed.
Leo arrived in the imperial capital from the western border for a farewell address before going off to battle.
It's likely he was called back at this time partly out of consideration for me.
Of course, there are probably various other reasons as well.
Leo is a general leading an army of 150,000.
A candidate for the throne who will undoubtedly secure the position of Crown Prince if he wins.
A heroic prince who has already achieved many feats.
His presence alone boosts morale among the people.
"Nii-san! How is our Mother!?"
"Calm down. She's stable now, and Finne is with her. According to the doctor attached to the emperor's harem, it seems to be due to a heartache. Well, it's not surprising, considering that both of her sons are at the front lines."
Upon hearing my explanation, Leo's face distorts in grief.
Currently, Mother is resting in a room in the inner palace, under heavy security.
The one who issued the order was Father.
The security arrangements are far from normal.
It's so alert that even the palace knights have been mobilized.
For Father, he's probably reminded of the nightmare when his second wife was ill.
Moreover, Mother is the biological mother of Leo and me.
The Crown Prince candidate leading 150,000 main forces from the land, and the temporary commander-in-chief who will become the overall commander of the entire army once he enters the field, leading the invasion from the sea.
She's the mother of these two. If she were to lose her life, it would affect morale.
As our status rises, so does Mother's status and importance.
"Is her life... not in danger?"
"That's what they say... but the cause of her heartache is almost certainly us. I'm afraid her anxiety won't be relieved."
"Then... we need to finish this as soon as possible."
In the past, Leo might have muttered something like, "At least you, big brother, should stay."
But now, Leo sees what needs to be done.
We must win. This is not a situation where we can reserve anything.
"That's right. I'll be leading a united fleet from the Commonwealth. Once we join up, I'll be the overall commander coordinating the entire army from the rear. Of course, it's just a formality."
"A temporary marshal, huh? It's impressive that Father allowed it."
"It was hard. But to lead a fleet from another country, you need a position. And for you to fight with all your might, someone needs to take care of the chores in the rear. This time, I'm serious too. The overall commander of the kingdom's entire army, Prince Ansem, is a remarkable man. If you let your guard down, even you could lose."
"If you say so, it must be true... Leticia warned me, too. If he had been in good health, she wouldn't have needed to join the battle against the United Kingdom."
"That's the kind of opponent he is. I know you're worried about Mother... but we won't solve her heartache unless we end this war. Let's just focus on winning for now. If we win, we can return."
"That's true. In this situation, we can't hope for an early peace agreement. Both sides are raring to go. Ideally, we'd want to inflict a major blow in a single battle and then negotiate for peace, but..."
"I can't imagine the ambitious Crown Prince would accept that, nor do I think Ansem would allow such a defeat. We'll have to be patient."
"I guess so..."
Leo's face fell a little.
He must want to minimize casualties. Part of it is because Leo is kind, but most of it is likely for Letitia's sake.
Under Leticia, there are quite a few former Kingdom members who admire her.
For them, with Leticia at the forefront, they will be fighting against their own homeland.
The fewer casualties, the better.
"Peace is the best outcome, but for that, the Empire needs to gain an advantage. Once we're at the front lines, our only task is to defeat the enemy in front of us. That's the quickest way to peace. We'll have to leave the strategy to the Chancellor."
While persuading Leo, I heave a sigh.
There are just too many things we need to do.
We cannot leave the Kingdom, which is likely linked to the demon, unattended. But without solid evidence, the adventurer's guild can't act. That's why the Empire needs to expose them. If pushed into a corner, the demon will likely reveal itself.
But they're not an easy opponent to corner.
The Kingdom is a major power.
Their leader, Ansem, is a skilled tactician.
Quality and quantity - they're a formidable enemy possessing both. Plus, they have a robust fortress that the Empire failed to conquer previously.
If they barricade themselves in, it would be a real issue.
The combined fleet is intended for this, but there's no guarantee it can succeed.
If the war is prolonged, only the demon benefits.
Of course, it would be a windfall if Wepal showed up, but if Wepal appeared and neither Leo nor I were in the Empire, it would be pointless.
The war can't be drawn out, and I want to be in the Empire when it's weak.
It's self-indulgent, but everything hinges on continually playing the best hand and whether that will work or not.
For that, we first need victory.
It all comes back to that.
"Did you ever imagine when we were kids that we would lead a massive army and invade an enemy country?"
"Of course, I did. Just like Wilhelm and Erik... I thought we could do that, too."
"Really? I never did. I could imagine you going to the battlefield... but never thought I would go."
"Really? I could easily imagine it because I can trust my back to you."
"Your trust is terrifying to me."
"I trust you more than anyone. That's why I'm glad that you're going to the front line. It reassures me. Thank you, even though it's a hassle for you to leave the castle."
Leo honestly expresses his gratitude.
He would likely get angry if he knew the real reason I'm going to the front line.
That's why I can't tell him the truth.
"...We're brothers. One can't just sit back and relax in the castle. Not even me."
"That's what I like about you. Even though you usually hate responsibility, when it comes to family, you become responsible."
"Shut up. If you tease me, I might not send reinforcements."
"That's okay. Only Elna will be mad."
"By the time I send reinforcements, everything might be over... Remember to keep a tight rein on things, okay?"
"I'll try my best. Seriously."
After our conversation, Leo finished greeting our father and after making his appearance to the citizens, he then returned to the front lines.
TL's Notes:
Author finally ended the series (in RAWS) so we got around 203 chapters to go :^)
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